December 31, 2015

You Helped Us Grow in 2015

“You cannot change any society unless you take responsibility for it, unless you see yourself as belonging to it and responsible for changing it.” - Grace Lee Boggs 1915-2015

To our Members and Supporters,

For the last five years since we became an official 501c3, we have expanded our capacity to organize and advocate. APANO has become a place where our communities can think and act strategically to create policies that better serve our communities and achieve social justice. We strive to be a place that energizes us to be and make the change we seek. Together we have committed to struggle together, to define what justice looks like, and to develop social change strategies that will make a difference in the lives of our members and all Oregonians.

2015 was a strong year for APANO. Here is a list of key highlights from this year:

Major English Language Learner Statewide Reform Signed by Governor: HB 3499 and $12.5 million strengthens focus and urgency on Oregon’s 57,000 ELL Students
Community Organizing Deepens with Youth and Parents: Marshallese, Vietnamese, Chinese Parent Groups established in Portland and Salem.
API Leaders for the Liberation of Youth (ALLY) APANO’s Youth Organizing Program Launches Missing Pages of Our History Ethnic Studies Campaign: Youth-led campaign to improve curriculum and student success by implementing Ethnic Studies courses throughout Portland Public High Schools.
Our Families Our Health Campaign for Health Equity: Mend the Gap Report and Town Halls lay groundwork for APANO’s 2016 policy work to cover 383,000 currently uninsured Oregonians.
Jade Strategic Plan Focuses on Building Power, Anti-Displacement and Improving Health:Door-knocking, Night Market events, and business canvassing with growing success in building neighborhood coalition in the Jade International District and surrounding neighborhoods.
Mic Check! Series Highlights Growing Cultural Work: Art and cultural work incorporated into organizing and advocacy, with a focus on creating space for marginalized voices (API, LGBTQ, youth, etc.) through creative expression.
JAMS Operating Successfully as a Community Gathering Place: Old Furniture Store building has hosted hundreds of guests at dozens of events over the past seven months, truly validating the need for more community space.

You, our members and supporters, helped us get here. You, the communities that are directly impacted by the issues of injustice, directed and lead our organizing and advocacy efforts with tremendous force and courage. Thank you for building and sustaining this movement with us for equity and justice for all Oregonians.

In Solidarity,